EU CLIMATE TARGETS 2040 – Reducing net emissions by 90% by 2040
In February 2024, the European Commission presented its assessment for a 2040 climate target for the EU. The Commission recommended reducing the EU’s net greenhouse gas emissions by 90% by 2040 relative to 1990.
The 2040 climate target will reaffirm the EU’s determination to tackle climate change and will shape our path after 2030, to ensure the EU reaches climate neutrality by 2050. The climate neutrality objective is at the heart of the European Green Deal and is a legally binding objective set out in the European Climate Law.
The EU’s 2030 climate target is to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% relative to 1990. The 2040 climate target is our next intermediate step on the path to climate neutrality.
Reducing our net emissions by 90% by 2040 will:
- put us on course towards climate neutrality by 2050, building a healthier and safer future for Europeans.
- ensure predictability for citizens, businesses and investors, by making sure that resources invested now and in the upcoming decades are compatible with the EU’s pathway to climate neutrality, avoiding wasted investments in the fossil fuel economy.
- boost the competitiveness of Europe’s businesses, create stable and future-proof jobs, and enable the EU to lead in developing the clean technology markets of the future.
- make Europe more resilient and strengthen its strategic autonomy.
Resources:
https://climate.ec.europa.eu/eu-action/climate-strategies-targets/2040-climate-target_en
